The last year of the degree has an added difficulty that we cannot find in any other course. It is a research project with which the student must prove that it has reached the level of maturity and judgment required to practice professionally.
In other words, the research project serves to show that the contents of the degree have been useful to us and that we have our own initiative to apply them in real life.
10 tips so you don’t choke on your research paper
- Make a list of possible topics. Not sure where to start? Brainstorm topics that you would like to discuss and search for information, so your topic selection will be much easier and you will make sure you choose a topic that grabs your attention.
- Gather ALL the information relevant to the chosen topic. This will help you become an expert on the subject and will also help you to better classify the information throughout the research process.
- Find yourself a trusted tutor or co-tutor. As much as you can, try to have the teacher advising you be a specialist in the subject you are dealing with.
- Find out about the structure of research papers. Although the works can have very different structures depending on the field of study (for example, have annexes or not), there are some parts that must be present in all investigations. This is the case of the introduction, conclusions or hypotheses.
- Consult works from previous courses. Knowing what your teammates did long ago may help you position yourself. The works act as a guide or inspiration: in no case can they be a source of plagiarism.
- Make a provisional index. The index will help you know what you want to say and how. You can always modify it in the course of the investigation.
- Make a list of the bibliography that you are going to consult. Bibliography is a key element to substantiate your claims. List the books and articles you know on the subject before you start.
- Establish periods to carry it out. You have to control the calendar, in no case the calendar can control you. Make a forecast about the time it will take to carry out each activity. Set goals for yourself each week. To keep your goals realistic and not overwhelming, try setting small weekly goals.
- Check the grammar. A bad spelling can detract from the effort of many months, whether you are in letters or science. Pay attention to it.
- Take care of the formal aspects. In addition to the spelling, there are other important aspects: margins, typeface, cover, courtesy sheets, etc.
